On a crossroad, Chu Xuede was peddling ice cream bars to passers-by.
When Chu Qingning saw Chu Xuede, she walked over and greeted him. “Brother Xuede, how’s business?”
Chu Xuede said happily, “I sold almost half of the 1,500 ice cream bars.”
Chu Qingning smiled and said, “You only came out for two hours, right?”
Chu Xuede said happily, “That’s right. I can close the stall and go home after selling for about four hours every day.”
Chu Qingning said casually, “Is everyone’s business so good?”
Chu Xuede pointed at the people from the same village two streets away. “Look at him.”
Chu Qingning looked over.
The stall over there was surrounded by children. Beside the stall was a private school for children from three to five years old. The families in the county did not lack these few copper coins. Every time the children came out of school, they would buy the ice cream bar. The business was better. The stall owner bought 2,000 ice cream bars from Chu Qingzhi a day. When the children finished school, the ice cream bars would be sold out in no time.”
He pointed further on the other side, where there was another stall. “Look over there again.”
Chu Qingning turned to look in that direction.
The stall over there was surrounded by some young men. After buying the ice cream bar, they quickly left.
Chu Xuede explained, “There’s a paper-making workshop and a wine-making workshop over there. The people working there are all young men. After they get off work, they will buy one or two pieces. They will either bring them home for their elders and wives to eat or give them to their children. The business is also very good.”
Chu Qingning smiled. If their business was good, her family’s business would be even better. “Brother Xuede, 1 hope our business will continue to get better.”
Chu Xuede smiled. “Yes.”
The two of them chatted for a while more before Chu Qingning bade farewell and left. When she reached the entrance of the county, she met Chu Qingshuang. “Qingshuang.”
Chu Qingshuang turned around in surprise. “Fourth Sister.”
The two sisters walked side by side towards the Chu Village.
On the way, Chu Qingning asked with concern, “Qingshuang, are you used to it?”
Chu Qingshuang couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, Master taught me everything. The Li family is quite easy to get along with. There’s a little girl called Li Xinrui who’s competing with me.”
Chu Qingning asked curiously, “Is Li Xinrui a child of the Li family?”
Chu Qingshuang smiled and said, “Yes, she said that the incense burner she makes is also very good, but it’s not as good as mine. When she grows up, she can make it as good as mine.”
Chu Qingning smiled and said, “This little girl is quite interesting.”
Suddenly, Chu Qingshuang seemed to have thought of something. She frowned slightly, but she did not say it. Instead, she talked about happy things.
The sisters chatted as they walked away.
In Chu Village.
There were two famous hooligans in the Chu Village. One was called Chu Laipi, the other was called Chu Peipei, and there was a famous big-mouthed village woman called Fang Cuiyun.
At this moment, Chu Laipi and Chu Peipei were talking to Fang Cuiyun.
Chu Laipi said, “Aunt Cuiyun, I want to tell you something big. Do you want to hear it?”
Fang Cuiyun loved to listen to gossip. She was even interested in mosquito-like things, let alone big things. “Tell me, tell me.”
Chu Peipei leaned closer and lowered his voice to sound mysterious. “I saw someone in the village go to the brothel.”
It was very expensive to go to the brothel. Fang Cuiyun covered her mouth. “Really?”
Chu Laipi emphasized, “Of course it’s true. We saw it with our own eyes.”
Fang Cuiyun asked curiously, “Who is that?”
Seeing that he had successfully piqued Fang Cuiyun’s curiosity, Chu Laipi immediately struck while the iron was hot. “We’ll talk about this later. I have something even more explosive. Do you want to hear it?”
Fang Cuiyun urged, “Tell me, tell me.”
“Chu Qingzhi…” Chu Laipi pointed at Chu Qingzhi’s house. “She’s the daughter Chu Rong brought back. Her relationship with the General is not ordinary.”
Fang Cuiyun was a little frightened. “General?”
When the commoners heard the name of a high-ranking official, their first reaction was fear. This was not strange.
Chu Laipi said confidently, “That’s right. Previously, when Chu Qingzhi was imprisoned, it was the general who saved her.”
Fang Cuiyun widened her eyes. “Don’t spout nonsense. How can the general know her and even save her?”
Chu Laipi licked his lips and looked very wretched. “You don’t know this. Chu Qingzhi is the general’s lover. If his lover is in trouble, will the general sit back and do nothing?”
Fang Cuiyun suddenly pulled a long face. “Chu Laipi, not to mention that it’s impossible for the general to appear in our place, even if he did, how could a little girl like Chu Qingzhi become his lover? Moreover, the general definitely likes a woman from an official family with status and knowledge. Why would he like a girl from an ordinary family? Can you stop spreading rumors?”
Seeing that Fang Cuiyun did not believe him, Chu Peipei panicked. “Aunt Cuiyun, what we said is true.”
“Did you see it with your own eyes?” Fang Cuiyun liked to gossip, but gossip had to be based on evidence, right?
They both shook their heads. “No.”
Fang Cuiyun did not take what the two of them said to heart at all. “Also, Chu Qingzhi is our village’s benefactor now. If you dare to spout nonsense, I will be the first to not let you off.”
Her family had relied on Chu Qingzhi to earn a lot of money. If anyone wanted to harm Chu Qingzhi, she would fight them to the death.
She took the opportunity to lecture them. “The two of you are already so old. Don’t just eat and drink all day long. Go and do something to earn money. When you earn money, marry a wife. Isn’t that good?”
Chu Peipei and Chu Laipei, on the other hand, looked at each other and sighed in unison.
Damn it, none of them believed what they said. Instead, they were lectured. How were they going to spread this rumor?
“Hurry up and go home to help. Don’t idle around. I still have something to do. I’ll leave first.” Fang Cuiyun was in a rush to work and left in a hurry.
Chu Peipei and Chu Laipei pulled their hair in frustration and left.
Chu Qingning and Chu Qingshuang walked out from behind a big tree nearby with ugly expressions.
Just now, when they heard the three of them mention Chu Qingzhi’s name, they immediately hid to see what Chu Peipei and the others wanted to say. They did not expect to hear such ugly words.
Chu Qingning was a little afraid. “Sixth Sister, let’s go back and tell Fifth Sister. If this rumor spreads, it will be serious.”
Chu Qingshuang nodded. “Ok.”
The sisters hurriedly returned home and found Chu Qingzhi, who was washing the bamboo leaves. They told her everything the three of them had said.
After Chu Qingzhi heard this, she fell into deep thought.
It sounded like the two hooligans were instructed by someone. How could ordinary people dare to spread the rumor of the general? In ancient times, although it was common knowledge that big shots raised mistresses, no one dared to say it in public lest they offended the big shots..
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